That was the message of support that Jane Davidson, Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing delivered at the opening of the Bannau Brycheiniog Food Festival and Green Fair last Saturday in the Brecon Market Hall. The Minister was joined on stage by Mr Nick Bourne AM and Andrew Powell, Catering Manager for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority and organiser of the event – which saw hoards of people gather throughout the day eager to purchase local produce before it sold out, watch the ever popular cookery demonstrations and get hot tips on how to be more sustainable and reduce their energy consumption.
This year the Food Festival incorporated traditional features such as local celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, coupled with the Bannau Brycheiniog Green Fair – an expansion into the Struet that showcased a range of innovative, energy efficient products and services to promote the use of renewable energy at a local level – the Brecon Guild Hall also ran a World Trade Fair to complement the day.
Catering Manager for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority and organiser of the event, Andrew Powell, said: “Saturday was a huge success for everyone and was made even better by the World Trade Fair which took place in the Brecon Guild Hall – it was literally a feast for the senses! As a National Park we are incredibly lucky to be in a position to have an abundance of fantastic local producers and suppliers on our doorstep.”
On his first official engagement in Brecon and welcoming people to the event on Saturday, Cllr Eric Saxon, the new Chairman of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority said: “Good food, good company and good ideas can unite people and in that regard this festival is no exception. Bannau Brycheiniog Food Festival and Green Fair supports and nurtures those we are dependent on – our farmers, our local businesses and our communities. It represents the best and most vibrant industry across Wales and links us inextricably to our precious landscape. Everyone here today is playing such a vital role in supporting our local suppliers and producers and to so many rural people in Wales.”
– ENDS –
Pictures of the event are available.: Copyright of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority – for copies of the pictures please contact communications@breconbeacons.org
Wern Ddu wine toasting (Pictured from left to right) – Mrs Jane Davidson, Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing; Mrs Nick Bourne AM, Cllr Eric Saxon, Chairman of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority and Mr John Cook, Chief Executive of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority pictured inside the Food Festival Hall holding a toast to the recent success of Wern Ddu Wine Highly Commended award for the Wern Ddu sparkling wine in the South West Wine Vineyards Association Annual Competition 2010.
Veggie Box Scheme and Permaculture Network – Green Fair exhibitor Cath Pape pictured with her Veggie Box Scheme stall.
Tools for Self Reliance – Mrs Jane Davidson, Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing pictured with Tony Care and Eric Bowles from Tools for Self Reliance Cymru.